Queensland proposes e-bike/e-scooter licensing laws, sparking industry backlash
Consensus Summary
Queensland’s proposed legislation to require learner licences and a minimum age of 16 for e-bike and e-scooter riders has sparked widespread opposition from food delivery companies, shared mobility schemes, and local councils. Uber Eats and DoorDash warn the rules would exclude 89% of their delivery workforce, who primarily use international passports and lack driver’s licences, leading to operational disruptions and longer wait times for customers. The 10 km/h speed limit on footpaths has also drawn criticism, with councils like Gold Coast arguing it reduces rider stability and discourages active transport. The Queensland Tourism Industry Council highlights that international tourists, particularly from Asia and Europe, would be disproportionately affected due to low licence ownership. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg defended the reforms, citing pedestrian safety concerns, while over 2,000 submissions from cycling groups, disability advocates, and transport experts have called for major amendments. Shared e-vehicle operators like Lime and Neuron fear the bill could make their services uninsurable, potentially ending shared schemes across Queensland cities.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Queensland’s proposed laws require e-bike and e-scooter riders to hold at least a learner licence and be 16 or over
- Uber Eats reported 89% of its Queensland delivery riders use an international passport and lack a driver’s licence
- The proposed speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters on footpaths is 10 km/h
- Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg defended the legislation, citing pedestrian safety concerns on footpaths
- DoorDash warned the licence requirement would create a ‘disproportionate and unnecessary barrier’ for delivery riders
- The bill allows police to conduct random breath tests on e-bike and e-scooter riders
- The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) warned the rules could exclude international tourists due to low licence ownership rates in key markets like Asia and Europe
- The City of Gold Coast criticised the 16-year age rule, suggesting a 12-year threshold would be more logical
- The proposed reforms are part of a parliamentary inquiry with over 2,000 submissions from cycling, disability, and transport groups
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Uber Eats stated the cost of a three-year learner licence ($77.55) plus a PrepL course ($28.70) totals $106.25, creating a financial barrier for delivery riders
- Brisbane City Council expressed concerns that the licensing rules disincentivise young riders and create practical implementation difficulties
- The Gold Coast council argued the 10 km/h speed limit on footpaths is ‘not creditable’ and increases safety hazards due to reduced rider control
- A 79-year-old woman was killed in a crash involving a legal e-bike on Bribie Island in July 2025, with Queensland’s 2025 road deaths toll being the highest in 16 years (306 fatalities)
- The current speed limit for personal mobility devices on footpaths is 12 km/h, while there is no existing speed limit for e-bikes
- Shared e-vehicle schemes like Lime and Neuron warned the bill could make their services uninsurable due to the licence requirement for operators
- The Guardian noted that e-bikes and e-scooters represented the least and second least fatalities of any transport mode in Queensland
- The state’s road toll is 24.2% higher than the same time last year, according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Cycling groups, the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, and multiple councils (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan, Somerset, Noosa) called for major amendments to the bill
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states the proposed speed limit for e-bikes on footpaths is 10 km/h, while it notes the current limit for personal mobility devices is 12 km/h, but the Guardian does not mention the current 12 km/h limit
- The ABC reports a single fatality involving a legal e-bike in 2025, while the Guardian states e-bikes and e-scooters had the least fatalities of any transport mode but does not specify the exact number of e-bike-related deaths
Source Articles
Uber Eats hits out at push to require e-bike riders to hold licence
Food delivery giant Uber Eats hits out at the Queensland government's push to introduce licensing mandates for e-bike and e-scooter users.
Queensland ebike laws could cripple Uber Eats, DoorDash and shared e-vehicle schemes, industry warns
Food delivery services say the proposed laws will affect their workers, while shared e-vehicle schemes claim the laws could make them uninsurable Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Legislation that would crack down on ebikes and e-scooters in Queensland could curtail food delivery services and potentially end shared e-vehicle schemes, industry figures warn. The proposed laws would set an age limit of 16 on ebikes an